AT90PWM2/3/2B/3B
the code from the program memory. The program code within the Boot Loader section has the
capability to write into the entire Flash, including the Boot Loader memory. The Boot Loader can
thus even modify itself, and it can also erase itself from the code if the feature is not needed any-
more. The size of the Boot Loader memory is configurable with fuses and the Boot Loader has
two separate sets of Boot Lock bits which can be set independently. This gives the user a
unique flexibility to select different levels of protection.
24.1 Boot Loader Features
• Read-While-Write Self-Programming
• Flexible Boot Memory Size
• High Security (Separate Boot Lock Bits for a Flexible Protection)
• Separate Fuse to Select Reset Vector
• Optimized Page(1) Size
• Code Efficient Algorithm
• Efficient Read-Modify-Write Support
Note:
1. A page is a section in the Flash consisting of several bytes (see Table 25-11 on page 284)
used during programming. The page organization does not affect normal operation.
24.2 Application and Boot Loader Flash Sections
The Flash memory is organized in two main sections, the Application section and the Boot
Loader section (see Figure 24-2). The size of the different sections is configured by the
BOOTSZ Fuses as shown in Table 24-6 on page 277 and Figure 24-2. These two sections can
have different level of protection since they have different sets of Lock bits.
24.2.1
24.2.2
Application Section
The Application section is the section of the Flash that is used for storing the application code.
The protection level for the Application section can be selected by the application Boot Lock bits
(Boot Lock bits 0), see Table 24-2 on page 269. The Application section can never store any
Boot Loader code since the SPM instruction is disabled when executed from the Application
section.
BLS – Boot Loader Section
While the Application section is used for storing the application code, the The Boot Loader soft-
ware must be located in the BLS since the SPM instruction can initiate a programming when
executing from the BLS only. The SPM instruction can access the entire Flash, including the
BLS itself. The protection level for the Boot Loader section can be selected by the Boot Loader
Lock bits (Boot Lock bits 1), see Table 24-3 on page 269.
24.3 Read-While-Write and No Read-While-Write Flash Sections
Whether the CPU supports Read-While-Write or if the CPU is halted during a Boot Loader soft-
ware update is dependent on which address that is being programmed. In addition to the two
sections that are configurable by the BOOTSZ Fuses as described above, the Flash is also
divided into two fixed sections, the Read-While-Write (RWW) section and the No Read-While-
Write (NRWW) section. The limit between the RWW- and NRWW sections is given in Table 24-
7 on page 277 and Figure 24-2 on page 268. The main difference between the two sections is:
•
When erasing or writing a page located inside the RWW section, the NRWW section can be
read during the operation.
•
When erasing or writing a page located inside the NRWW section, the CPU is halted during
the entire operation.
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4317J–AVR–08/10
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
